FanHouse JoeSmith

The Cleveland Cavaliers worked all season to develop a home-court dominance that they expected to carry them all the way to the NBA Finals. But after having that homecourt aura abruptly stripped away in Game 1 by Orlando, it puts them into a high-pressure, must-win, situation tonight in Game 2. Another loss would be crushing, like digging their own playoff grave.

Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Cavs never played from behind, which can cause panic to even the most seasoned veteran. Conversely, desperation can be a wonderful motivational tool. After the jump are five questions for Game 2 of the East finals.

The Cavaliers did indeed beat the Pistons in Game 3 of their first round playoff match-up, stretching their lead to a near insurmountable three games to none in the process. And because Cleveland was able to comfortably pull away in a 79-68 victory on the road, that pretty much means this series is all over but the Rasheed Wallace shouting at the refs.

Because it is. Look a little more closely at how this one went down, and you'll see that so much had to go wrong for Detroit to even make a game of it, and you'll see that the rule is this. Cleveland looks like the best team in the East, possibly the league right now, and it may not be that close.

Cherry Picking recaps the previous day's NBA playoff action.

Carmelo Anthony has often been criticized for his failure to the lead the Nuggets past the first round of the playoffs in five tries, but that's simply unfair. Truth be told, Denver's history of early exits began long before Anthony even entered high school, let alone became the Nuggets' whipping boy.

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FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Cleveland Indians.

Coming off a 96-win season in 2007, the Indians were expected to be one of the stronger teams in the AL last year. Cleveland looked like it was going to compete with the Tigers all year for the division crown. They had Victor Martinez, one of the best catchers in the league, along with a 1-2 punch of CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona atop the rotation. As always, there were some concerns, including fifth starter Cliff Lee, whose 2007 ERA was 6.29. But on the whole, it looked like it was going to be a pretty good year.

Most of ESPN's NBA media contingent has a great reputation. Marc Stein is a stone-cold killer; Chris Sheridan has had strong moments (particularly in FIBA/Olympic coverage). John Hollinger and Chad Ford have their haters, but hold good records in total. The analysis and style of Chris Broussard and J.A. Adande are typically fantastic, in my opinion. David Thorpe, Henry Abbott, Kevin Arnovitz -- swell guys I'm happy to call friends.

But Ric Bucher ... he's not a paragon of credibility.

As expected, it didn't take the recently bought out Drew Gooden and Joe Smith long to find new teams -- by all accounts, the two power forwards each had unofficial agreements in place even before the NBA confirmed they cleared waivers.

The two brawny power forwards pictured at right won't be wasting the time leading up to this summer's free agency languishing on a high lottery team. The excellent Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Oklahoma City agreed to waive cagey veteran Joe Smith in time to join a playoff team. Windhorst has sources that call the Cavaliers a lock as Smith's destination.

Drew Gooden, meanwhile, became a surprise addition to the buy-out list. Traded to the Kings a week-and-change ago, Gooden has played only one game in Royal Purple. But the rebuilding Kings have young talent in the frontcourt and no real need to, um, win. Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee first reported the possibility of a buy-out Saturday; it happened just an hour before the midnight Eastern deadline. San Antonio looks like a potential landing place.

But a team with no shot at either -- the Boston Celtics -- might be the biggest story out of the last-minute buy-outs.

As Brett Pollakoff told you early Thursday morning, the Thunder slapped a "Return to Sender" stamp on big prize Tyson Chandler.

That leaves New Orleans in worse financial shape than before it made the cap-cutting trade. Dropping Chandler for expiring contracts began as an unsavory idea ... but it was a passable idea. Chris Paul didn't revolt or anything. But now the options are slimmer and far more likely to draw serious fire from within.

The Tyson Chandler Derby has been much more muted than the Amare-geddon (credit B-a-B), but the results might be as important. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that Oklahoma City has landed Chandler for (apparently) Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith, whose contracts happen to expiring this summer. (Just a coincidence, I'm sure.)

Chandler can be considered a defensive version of Stoudemire, with little offensive impact beyond his beautiful and famous alley-oop connection with Chris Paul. If Amare could turn a team without scorers into a good offense, Chandler can potentially make a bad defense (OKC qualifies) respectable.

That Boston would like another veteran reserve for its frontcourt is not new information: the Celtics were heavily involved in courting Antonio McDyess in November when the player gave the impression his return to the Pistons was not a preordained procedure. Twice-retired P.J. Brown's name pops up, though it seems he is really retired this time. But Dikembe Mutombo has been the so-called prize of late. But Celtics coach Doc Rivers thinks Mutombo will turn elsewhere, like Houston.

So who does that leave for Boston? Joe Smith's the new name.

Actually, Smith came up for discussion first in Cleveland, as Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on murmurs that Oklahoma City will try to trade or waive an existing big man to make room for Nenad Krstic in the rotation. Smith, the oldest of the bunch and carrying an expiring contract, would seem to be the best candidate. And this would not be unprecedented for Sam Presti: he bought out Brent Barry late last season (allowing a return to the Spurs) and sent Kurt Thomas to San Antonio for a pick. Some teams place a big emphasis on keeping veterans around; the Thunder does not.

So as with McDyess, it appears we will have a bidding war between the Eastern powers over Smith's services. Cleveland had Smith on the roster for a spell last season, so give the Cavs a head start.